[Men's Basketball] Mustangs back in top 25, but fall to Vikings

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy re-entered the national rankings on Monday, but that didn't matter to Grand View, which overcame a four-point halftime deficit to beat the Mustangs, 64-61, in a Midwest Collegiate Conference matchup at Hennessey Recreation Center.

A four-game winning streak had Mount Mercy back in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll at No. 25 late this afternoon. Despite shooting only 29.6 percent in the opening period, the Mustangs managed a 27-23 lead at the break.

It didn't last, even though Mount Mercy connected on 53.8 percent of its field goal tries in the second half. The Vikings shot 29 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes, then improved to 48 percent after intermission. The difference was 3-point shooting, where Grand View went 8-of-14 in the second half.

The Vikings took the lead for good on a free throw by Josh Henry with 1:02 remaining. After Mount Mercy missed a 3-pointer, Henry hit another foul shot and it was 62-60, Grand View. Junior forward Alex Coleman was fouled with 15 seconds to go and made 1-of-2 free throws to cut the Mustangs' deficit to 62-61.

Mount Mercy fouled on the Vikings' next possession, which led to a pair of free throws by Allen Clark that put Grand View up, 64-61. Following a Viking timeout, the Mustangs called their own to set up a final attempt to tie. But a 3-point try at the buzzer was off the mark and Grand View got a sweep of the regular season series.

Junior forward Chad Underwood's double-double included 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Mustangs (15-6, 6-4 MCC). Coleman joined him in double figures with 10 points. Junior guard Markus Cocroft tallied six points, four boards and five assists.

Kody Ingle hit five 3-pointers during a 19-point night for the Vikings (11-7 5-5 MCC). Clark wound up with 12 points and six assists, Henry 11 points and nine rebounds.

Now two games back of league-leading St. Ambrose (14-8, 8-2 MCC), Mount Mercy travels to Dubuque to battle Clarke (13-7, 5-5 MCC) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Kehl Center. The Mustangs put up their second-highest point total of the season against the Crusaders the first time around, winning, 96-83, on Dec. 10 at Hennessey Rec Center.